Upholstering apparatus.



No.'644,426. Patented Feb. 27, |900.

. A J. L. HEFFNER.

UPHOLSTERING APPARATUS. (Appumin me.; occ. 5, 189s.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES -PAT'ENT FFIO.

JOHN L. HEFFNER, on PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

AUPHOLsTl-:Rmc AI'SPATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,426, dated February2'?, 190.0.

` Application filed October 5, 1898. Serial No. 692.685. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. I-IEFFNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Upholstering Apparatus;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enabley others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to upholstering apparatus.

The object of my invention is to simplify upholstering-machines and toprovide a device that can be cheaply made, easily manipulated, will beeffective in its work, and accomplish much more than others of its classare capable of doing with as little trouble and expense.'

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of anupholstering device for making the biscuit form of tufting. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a modified form of the machine, showing the mannerof making the familiar diamond tufting. Fig. 2:L is a perspective viewof a shaping-block. Fig. 2b is also a view of a shaping-block. Fig. 3shows diamond-tufted padding as made by my machine. Fig. 4 is a planview of the form of device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof a portion of the bottom of the tufting-ma chine shown in Figs. 2 and4 with shapingblocks thereon. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a clip orfastening for the binding material or tying medium. Fig. 7 shows aportion of the biscuit form of tufting made in either of the forms ofthe machine shown.

The apparatus is composed of the sides A, slotted at E, the series ofslots on one side being opposite those on the other, the bottom B, legsC, and the usual form of shapingblocks D, the latter being either fixedto the bottom or permitted to lie loosely thereon. The new featureswhich I embody are, first, the cord, string, or wire F, stretched fromside to side of the body or former within the slots E mentioned, and,secondly, the use of some means for forming diamond-shaped tufting, allof which will be described at some length hereinafter.

Although the making of diamond tufting is not new, I consider it new tomake such tufting with a machine constructed as I show it, as well asthe particular form of blocks shown.

A spring-clip D', similar to that shown in Fig. 6, is secured at eachside of the former adjacent to each slot E, and a cord F or itsequivalent is stretched across the machine from side to side Within eachpair of slots, as shown, and is held tightly stretched in that positionby the said clips. In order to make the machine as convenient aspossible, I provide a clip at each side of the several slots; but it isevident that only one need be used, or other means of holding the cordsmay be employed, since my idea is to provide a cord, wire, or equivalentfor upholstering-machines which will take the place of the partitionsheretofore employed. The cord may be of one continuous length placed inzigzag manner through the several pairs of slots, as shown,

or may be used in various short lengths, but K held in either case bythe binding devices. The tufting material, as shown in part section inFig. 1, is laid upon the tightened cords, is forced down into eachspace, and treated, as in ordinary practice, with burlap or itsequivalent as a body, the cords being then released from theirfastenings and tied as usual. When using the cord in one continuouslength, it is severed between the fastenings before being tied. Thecontinuous length is employed to facilitate the work of placing themachine in condition for work. The form of tufting made by the machineso arranged is shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 2 shows the same machine, exceptfor the arrangement of the shaping-blocks D, which are triangular inform and have a conical groove in one of the upper corners of each andso arranged that when four of the blocks are placed together in theformer or mold a diamond-shaped recess is created. The ends of theblocks are separated slightly when placed in position Within the saidmold, so as to leave a passage in line with each pair of slots for thetying-cord. Fig. 4 shows the said cord run through each slot, as shownin Fig. l but in this case the diamond form of block must be replaced bythe form used for biscuit tufting.

A series of blocks G are pivotally secured to the top edges of the sidesA above the series of shaping-blocks and project beyond the topsthereof. The tufting material is pushed IOO under these and is moreeasily held in place. In this form of mold it will be observed that thesaine number of slots are shown as for Fig. l; but only such slots asare in line with the junction of the diamonds are employed. The otherslots are used only when the blocks G are swung out of position and thediamondtufting blocks are replaced by those used in Fig. 1, thusadmitting of making the biscuit tufting in this form of device also. Itis not necessary to have the shaping-blocks separated, except at theends where the tying is done, and therefore said blocks may be made asshown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 2b-that is, either with the half-diamond or asolid block showing the entire diamond-shaped groove-thus accomplishingthe object sought with less parts. The diamond tufting is shown in Fig.3. The advantage of being able to make diamond tufting with this machinewill be appreciated.

I show also in Fig. 2 an adjustable bottom, which aids materially inmaking the various kinds of padding and is a valuable adjunct, since thedepth of the mold may be changed at will. This, however, is not new,except in combination with my improved mechanism described.

By having the cords or other tying medium held so as to permit thetufting to be done upon them the partitions or other devices ordinarilyused are dispensed with, thus simplifying construction and operation.The advantages of my method over the old will be likewise appreciated;but in the use of the diamond form as arranged in Fig. 2 it is notnecessary to use the spring-clips unless desired, because the risingtaper of the grooves in the blocks at the apex of the diamond act aspartitions and it is only necessary to lay the tying medium within theslots. Then after placing the material in the mold the strings areraised and tied about the necks of the adjoining diamonds in the mannerindicated in the figure named.

Various changes may be made in the construction of the device withoutdeparting from the spirit of myinvention. The swinging blocks G are notessential in making the tufting, but are aids thereto.

The clips may be adjustable vertically, whereby the cords can be fixedat any height to suit the demand. It is evident that holes in the sidesof the former would answer as well as the slots E, and the sides wouldbe stiffer and stand more strain when so construoted.

I have shown and referred to the adjustable bottom in connection with myupholstering-4 machine; but I wish it understood that I may or may notuse that feature.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an upholstering apparatus, a mold or former in which to formtufting, openings in the sides for the passage of the tying mediumstretched across the former and fastening devices for holding such tyingmedium for the purposes set forth.

2. In an upholstering apparatus comprising a mold `or former, openiu gsin the sides for the passage of the tying medium stretched across theformer, fastening devices for holding the said tying medium andshaping-blocks within the former substantially as described and for thepurposes set forth.

3. In an upholsterin g apparatus comprising a mold or former, openingsin the sides for the passage of the tying medium stretched across theformer, fastening devices for holding the said tying medium,shaping-blocks within the former, and swinging blocks above theshaping-blocks for the purposes set forth and described.

4. In an upholstering apparatus, a inold or former in which to formtufting, openings in the sides, for the passage of the tying mediumstretched across the former, and fastening devices secured near theopenings for the purposes set forth in combination with an adjustablebottom for changing the depth of the mold substantially as described andshown.

5. For use in an upholstering-machine a shaping-block having a conicalopening cut in each end thereof the largest ends of such openings comingtogether within the block, such double-coned cavity forming a depressionin the block wherein to form tufts substantially as set forth.

6. In an upholstering-machine, the combination of the former consistingof the sides A and bottom B, slots or openings in the sides thereof,tying medium within the openings, fastening devices for grasping thesaid tying medium, suitable forming-blocks within the mold, pivotalblocks above the forming-blocks adapted to swing as set forth and anadjustable bottom for changing the depth of the mold substantially asherein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. IIEFFNER.

Witnesses:

J. II. BLUsoH, CHARLES J. W oLFn.

IOO

IIO

